Caulk Cartridge Cap

ABSTRACT

A method for sealing a caulk cartridge type container may include the steps of opening an end of a dispensing nozzle of the caulk cartridge type container, deforming the caulk cartridge type container so that dispensing material stored within the chalk cartridge type container flows through the end of the dispensing nozzle, positioning a dispensing sleeve on the end of the dispensing nozzle, deforming the caulk cartridge type container so that the dispensing material flows into the dispensing sleeve, curing the dispensing material within the dispensing sleeve. The curing step may cure the dispensing material only within the dispensing sleeve, and the dispensing nozzle may be tapered. The dispensing sleeve may form a friction fit with the dispensing nozzle, the dispensing sleeve may be deformable. The dispensing sleeve may be expandable, and the dispensing sleeve may be rigid.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to closures, and more particularlypertains to a cap which may be used to assist in sealing a caulkcartridge type container.

BACKGROUND

The use of closures to seal open containers is known in the prior art.Regardless of the fact that there are literally thousands of differenttypes of closures and caps available for sealing containers, there hasapparently been no attempt to provide a closure for a caulk cartridgetype container so as to prevent the drying out or premature aging ofcaulking material contained within the container after it has beenopened. In this regard, the caulk cartridge cap according to the presentinvention substantially departs from the conventional concepts anddesigns of all of the closures and caps presently available, and in sodoing provides a cap primarily developed for the purpose of facilitatingthe storage of unused portions of caulking material. More particularly,the present invention recognizes the need in the prior art for a deviceof resealing caulk cartridge type containers and is thus designed tosubstantially fulfill this need.

Conventional economy brand caulking guns are generally manualtrigger-operated devices incorporating a unidirectional grippingassembly which urges a piston rod forward to eject the compound from acartridge. This may be a lightweight, skeleton-frame caulking gundesigned to receive and carry a disposable caulk cartridge.

Caulking tubes (e.g., polyurethane or cardboard tube containers) arewidely used for packaging of various materials such as sealants,adhesives, and other caulking compositions. These materials are normallypaste or gel materials which harden when exposed to the environment oratmosphere.

Such tubes include a tapered dispensing nozzle at their leading end. Thenozzle can be cut off at a desired location to enable the contents ofthe tube to be dispensed by a caulking gun which advances a plunger ordisk through the tube. The nozzle can be cut off at an angle in order toaid in the dispensing of the caulking material.

Oftentimes, the entire contents of a caulking tube are not used at onetime or on one jobsite. As a result, the composition in the tube willbegin to dry out or cure. The longer the opened tube is stored before itis used again, the more of the composition that will undesirably cure.Because the compositions sold in caulking tubes are often veryexpensive, it can be quite costly when the composition cures in the tubeand is therefore wasted.

Sometimes it is possible to dig out cured composition from the open endof the nozzle of the tube if the tube hasn't been stored too long afterbeing opened. However, often it is not possible to do this because thecomposition has cured too deep. Sometimes it is possible to cut anadditional length off the nozzle to allow access to uncured compositionin the tube, but this procedure leaves too large an opening in thenozzle for useful dispensing of the composition.

Although it has been proposed to put a cap member over the open end of acaulking tube nozzle, this has not been entirely successful because someair remains in the nozzle or leaks past the cap. Thus, the compositioncan still become cured or hardened during storage, at least at the outerend of the nozzle.

A tapered dispensing tip has also been proposed for fitting over acaulking tube nozzle. However, the tip does not seal the end of thenozzle after the composition has been dispensed from the tube.

Although various types of spouts, caps and nozzles have been used oncans, tubes and bottles, none of such devices are suitable or practicalfor use on caulking tubes in a manner such that (1) the composition inthe tube can be easily and readily dispensed, (2) the tube can beeffectively sealed to prevent the composition in the tube and nozzlefrom hardening prematurely during shortage, and (3) the nozzle can bere-used on a variety of caulking tubes without modification and withoutloss of effectiveness.

There has not heretofore been proposed a technique or system for sealingthe open nozzle of a caulking tube having the advantages provided by thepresent invention.

SUMMARY

A method for sealing a caulk cartridge type container may include thesteps of opening an end of a dispensing nozzle of the caulk cartridgetype container, deforming the caulk cartridge type container so thatdispensing material stored within the chalk cartridge type containerflows through the end of the dispensing nozzle, positioning a dispensingsleeve on the end of the dispensing nozzle, deforming the caulkcartridge type container so that the dispensing material flows into thedispensing sleeve, curing the dispensing material within the dispensingsleeve.

The curing step may cure the dispensing material only within thedispensing sleeve, and the dispensing nozzle may be tapered.

The dispensing sleeve may form a friction fit with the dispensingnozzle, the dispensing sleeve may be deformable.

The dispensing sleeve may be expandable, and the dispensing sleeve maybe rigid.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention may be understood by reference to the followingdescription taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, inwhich, like reference numerals identify like elements, and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of the caulk cartridge typecontainer;

FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the dispensing sleeve;

FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the chalk cartridge typecontainer and the dispensing sleeve;

FIG. 4 illustrates that the chalk cartridge type container has dispensedno dispensing material into the dispensing sleeve;

FIG. 5 illustrates that the chalk cartridge type container has begun todispense dispensing material into the dispensing sleeve;

FIG. 6 illustrates that the dispensing material has formed a seal withthe dispensing sleeve;

FIG. 7 illustrates that the dispensing material has hardened;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention may include a caulk cartridge cap which isdesigned to enable the storage of unused portions of products of thetypes supplied within caulk cartridge type containers to maintain theunused portions in a reusable condition. The cap operates as a closurefor purposes of resealing a caulk type cartridge to prevent thepremature drying out or aging of the dispensing materials stored withinthe cartridge and to also prevent blockage within the cartridgeapplicator tube. The dispensing materials may include various materialssuch as sealants, adhesives, and other caulking compositions. The capincludes a sleeve which may form a friction fit with the dispensingnozzle and which may include an aperture which extends through thesleeve. The aperture may include a opening at each end of the sleeve sothat the first opening may cooperate with the dispensing nozzle toprovide a substantial airtight fit and may form a friction is fit withthe exterior surface of the dispensing nozzle. The other end of thedispensing nozzle may include an aperture to allow the environment tointeract with the dispensing material which may be stored within thecaulk cartridge type container to allow the dispensing material toexpand to the interior surface of the sleeve so that the dispensingmaterial may cure in order to form a barrier so that the remainingdispensing material within the dispensing nozzle and the caulk cartridgetype container is reusable and does not cure. The dispensing materialwhich may be located within the dispensing nozzle remain substantiallyusable and consequently there is no need for the dispensing nozzle to beshortened in order to eliminate cured dispensing material within thenozzle and there is no need to puncture the cure dispensing materialwithin the dispensing nozzle. The sleeve can be removed from the end ofthe dispensing nozzle which may allow the cured dispensing material tobe removed within the sleeve and cast aside. The chalk cartridge typecontainer can be used to dispense the dispensing material, and thesleeve can be replaced (alternatively with a new sleeve).

FIG. 1 illustrates a caulk cartridge type container 100 which mayinclude a container body 101 which is shown as a substantial cylinderwhich may be deformable and may form a housing for the dispensingmaterial. Other shapes are within the scope of the invention. Incommunication with the container body 100 may be a dispensing nozzle 103which may be deformable or maybe rigid and which may be tapered or untapered. As the container body 101 is deformed, the dispensing materialenters the dispensing nozzle 103. The distal end of the dispensingnozzle 103 may be removed to allow the dispensing material to flowthrough a central channel 105 to a workpiece (not shown).

FIG. 2 illustrates a dispensing sleeve 200 having a substantiallycentral channel 115 or aperture which may include a first opening 109 ata distal end of the dispensing sleeve 200 and a second opening 111 at aproximal end of the dispensing sleeve 200. The dispensing sleeve 200 maybe formed from a straw. The dispensing sleeve 200 may be deformable andmay be expandable to aid in the friction fit with the dispensing nozzle103.

FIG. 3 illustrates a caulk cartridge type container 100 which mayinclude a container body 101 which may be deformable and may form ahousing for the dispensing material. In communication with the containerbody 100 may be a dispensing nozzle 103 which may be deformable. As thecontainer body 101 is deformed, the dispensing material enters thedispensing nozzle 103. The distal end of the dispensing nozzle 103 maybe removed to allow the dispensing material to flow through a centralchannel 105 to a workpiece (not shown).

FIG. 3 illustrates a dispensing sleeve 200 and which may be a detachablyconnected to the caulk cartridge type container 100 and which may have asubstantially central channel 115 to cooperate with the central channel105 and which may include a first opening 109 at a distal end of thedispensing sleeve 200 and a second opening 111 at a proximal end of thedispensing sleeve 200. The dispensing sleeve 200 may be deformable andmay be expandable to aid in the friction fit with the dispensing nozzle103. The outer surface of the dispensing nozzle 103 may be frictionallyconnected to the interior surface of the dispensing sleeve 200.

FIG. 4 illustrates that the dispensing sleeve 200 has been position onthe dispensing nozzle 102. However no dispensing material 300 hasentered the dispensing sleeve 200.

In FIG. 5, the dispensing material 300 has been urged to the dispensingnozzle 102 and enters the dispensing sleeve 200.

In FIG. 6, the dispensing material 300 continues to be urged into thedispensing sleeve 200 and substantially forms a seal with the innersurface of the dispensing sleeve 200.

In FIG. 7, as a result of the opening 109 in the distal end of thesleeve 200, air interacts with the dispensing material 300 positioned inthe dispensing sleeve 200 and permitting the dispensing material 300positioned in a dispensing nozzle 103 to remain soft and uncured andavailable to be used easily once the sleeve 200 has been removed withthe hardened dispensing material 300.

While the invention is susceptible to various modifications andalternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by wayof example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It shouldbe understood, however, that the description herein of specificembodiments is not intended to limit the invention to the particularforms disclosed.

1. A method for sealing a caulk cartridge type container, comprising thesteps of: opening an end of a dispensing nozzle of the caulk cartridgetype container; deforming the caulk cartridge type container so thatdispensing material stored within the chalk cartridge type containerflows through the end of the dispensing nozzle; positioning a dispensingsleeve on the end of the dispensing nozzle; deforming the caulkcartridge type container so that the dispensing material flows into thedispensing sleeve; curing the dispensing material within the dispensingsleeve.
 2. A method for sealing a caulk cartridge type container as inclaim 1, wherein the curing step cures the dispensing material onlywithin the dispensing sleeve.
 3. A method for sealing a caulk cartridgetype container as in claim 1, wherein the dispensing nozzle is tapered.4. A method for sealing a caulk cartridge type container as in claim 1wherein the dispensing sleeve forms a friction fit with the dispensingnozzle.
 5. A method for sealing a caulk cartridge type container as inclaim 1, wherein the dispensing sleeve is deformable.
 6. A method forsealing a caulk cartridge type container as in claim 1, wherein thedispensing sleeve is expandable.
 7. A method for sealing a caulkcartridge type container as in claim 1, wherein the dispensing sleeve isrigid.